Device for identification of a filter holder of an espresso coffee machine

Abstract

A device for identification of a filter holder ( 4, 13 ) of an espresso coffee machine, comprising a support ( 3, 17, 18 ) on which the filter holder to be identified is removably placed, at least one thermopile radiation sensor ( 6, 6 a ) having a plurality of heat radiation-sensitive elements, an optical apparatus ( 8, 8 a ) that focuses radiations on said sensitive elements and circuit means, which receive electric signals transmitted by said sensitive elements and process a corresponding output signal. Said radiation sensor ( 6, 6 a ) is placed, relative to the support ( 3, 17, 18 ) for the filter holder to be identified, such that at least one portion thereof ( 10, 11, 15 ), when it is placed on the support, falls within the field of view ( 9, 9 a ) of the optical apparatus ( 8, 8 a ) of said sensor, such that said circuit means can determine a signal representative of the radiations of the filter holder portion detected by said optical apparatus of the sensor. According to the invention, the filter holder portion that is identified by the radiation sensor is a beverage dispensing spout portion of the filter holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for the identification of a filter holder of an espresso coffee machine, comprising a support on which the filter holder to be identified is removably placed, at least one beverage delivering spout on the filter holder, at least one radiation sensor having at least one heat radiation-sensitive element suitable for generating an electric signal representative of the heat radiation detected by the sensitive element, an optical apparatus that focuses radiations on said at least one sensitive element of the radiation sensor, said optical apparatus having a predetermined field of view, a circuit connected to said at least one radiation sensitive element of the radiation sensor for receiving an electric signals generated by said at least one sensitive element and for processing a corresponding output signal, said radiation sensor being placed, relative to said support for the filter holder to be identified, in a position that, when the filter holder rests on the support, at least one portion of said at least one beverage delivering spout falls within the field of view of the optical apparatus of said sensor, the output signal processed by said circuit being a signal representative of the radiation emitted by the spout portion detected by said optical apparatus of the sensor. 
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said filter holder is a double-dose filter holder and comprises two beverage delivery spouts. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said filter holder is a single-dose filter holder and comprises one beverage delivery spout. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , comprising two radiation sensors, each sensor being placed, relative to the support for the filter holder to be identified, in a position that, when the filter holder rests on the support, respective portions of the at least one beverage delivery spout thereof fall within the field of view of the optical apparatus of a respective sensor of said two radiation sensors. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of heat radiation-sensitive elements. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one radiation-sensitive element is of the thermopile type. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said support for the filter holder to be identified is placed at the ground coffee dispensing outlet of a coffee grinding and dosing apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said support for the filter holder to be identified is placed at a dispenser of an espresso coffee machine for beverage preparation.